Medicine today 

How New Year is celebrated around the world: Europe. How New Year is celebrated in European countries

New Year is celebrated all over the world, but each country has its own characteristics. Belarusians are accustomed to fabulous frost and snow outside the window. But sometimes you want to change the scenery of a fairy tale and fly away for the Christmas holidays, for example, to Europe. It is there that history and traditions are carefully preserved. New Year in Europe will be a vivid memory for a long time. Travel agencies offer many New Year's tours, but you can plan your vacation yourself. The main thing is to choose the right route.

Italy

New Year in Italy is called “Capodanno”, which translates as “head of the year”. In Italy, they believe that the New Year should be met, freeing from everything old, bad, sad, accumulated in the past year. It's funny that Italians throw their trash out the window. But the unsightly appearance of the streets after the action makes Italians abandon this tradition. It is customary to celebrate New Year's morning in new clothes.
One of the very old New Year traditions in Italy is to break the dishes at midnight to release all the pain and negative energy that has accumulated over the year.
Celebration of the New Year, as in Belarus, splashes out into the street after midnight. Hundreds of people gather around the pre-built stages in the squares. Many celebrate the holiday on the street, chanting the countdown numbers in chorus in Italian. After enjoying the most beautiful fireworks, you can disperse to various bars and restaurants, where tables should be ordered long before the holiday!
In winter, the weather in Italy is not at all hot. It often rains and winds are strong. So bring some warm and cozy clothes. After all, you can walk along the streets of Italy all day, enthusiastically drowning in city landscapes.

Egypt

In winter in Egypt there are no snow-covered streets, frosty windows. Instead of these usual signs of the New Year, the air temperature here is +26, the sea temperature is +25. Unless it gets colder in the evening, but the thermometer does not drop below +15.
In Ancient Egypt, the New Year was celebrated on September 11. This tradition is still popular among the population. But tourists have made their own contribution to history, arriving with their date and their traditions.
By the New Year, the city is filled with neon lights, palm trees are decorated with colorful garlands. Almost in all hotels, live Christmas trees appear, powdered with artificial snow, so that tourists do not miss their usual attributes. Flower shops also offer real Christmas trees from Holland. At the entrances to shopping centers there are Santa Clauses - here they are called in the French manner “Papa Noel”. The sidewalks are decorated with potted thuja and Bethlehem stars - large indoor plants with scarlet leaves.
You can celebrate the New Year in Egypt in a hotel, on a safari, and even at the bottom of the sea. You can go to Sharm El Sheikh with a boat trip. You can celebrate the New Year during a jeep safari. Or you can just celebrate at the hotel. There will definitely be a New Year's program with Egyptian folklore and belly dancing. For guests from the CIS countries, Russian-speaking performers are often invited. It is easy for children to organize the appearance of Santa Claus in the hotel room.
And don't forget to combine your holiday with some sightseeing. There are many of them in Egypt: the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, the Valley of Kings and Queens, the Valley of Craftsmen, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Temples in Abu Simbel ...

Spain

In terms of the number of visiting tourists, Spain ranks second in the world after France. Spain is both mountains with rocks and sunny plains, olive groves and pine forests. The Spanish New Year holidays are ideal for tourists who want exotic and sunny warmth.
In Spain, Christmas remains the main holiday. It is celebrated in a family circle with a rich table. But on New Year's, real madness begins. Almost no one is left to sit at the table - everyone rushes to admire the bright street processions and carnivals.
In Madrid there is a square called the Solar Gate (Plaza Puerta del Sol), where 12 grapes are eaten under the chime of the clock, according to a hundred-year tradition, each of which symbolizes a successful month to come. We must have time to eat all the grapes and make a wish under the chimes.
New Year can be celebrated in the historic city centers. And for those who want to see the sea and enjoy all the delights of the resort area, there is the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol and, of course, the most romantic place - the Canary Islands. This is an elite vacation.
Spain has preserved the spirit of the past. Bullfighting and knightly tournaments, dances and songs with a guitar - exotic fun is guaranteed to remain in your memory.

France

New Year's Eve in France is called la Saint-Sylvestre. On the night of Saint Selvester, the French Santa Claus - Père Noel - in wooden shoes and with a basket of gifts behind his back, flies on a donkey and enters the house through the chimney.
Christmas trees shining with lights stand in apartments and on the streets. The main Christmas service takes place at Notre Dame de Paris. In addition to the Christmas tree, the symbol of Christmas in France is the mistletoe - they believe that it will bring good luck next year. The French simply adore flowers - they place them all over the house, in bouquets and one at a time, they always put flowers on the table. Traditional French food: Blood sausages, baked turkey, goose and pig heads with beans, peas, chestnuts, beans or lentils.
You don't have to celebrate the New Year in Paris. You can enjoy the secrets of the streets of other cities. In Normandy you can taste the best varieties of cheese, in Burgundy - see the ducal castles included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, in Alsace - try one of the best wines in the world, and in Champagne - unique sparkling champagne.
Paris is everyone's dream. On New Years, the Eiffel Tower blazes with bright flashes of light. Especially popular is the avenue - Champs Elysees, or, in French, Champs-Elise. Here you can meet world-class stars strolling through the luxury shops and cinemas of this avenue. The street is never empty. On New Year's Eve, all the shops in Paris are full of discounts of 50%, or even 70%.

Turkey

Turkey associates with summer, heat and sunburn. What about the New Year in Turkey?
In a Muslim country, celebrating a Christian holiday is not prohibited. But there are still some limitations. In Turkey, a Christmas tree is erected on the New Year (an attribute of Christian Christmas). But in Saudi Arabia, you can end up in jail for this. Turkey is a country of tourism. The newcomers have also made changes in traditions here. Turkish hotels are always decorated for the New Year: decorated Christmas trees, fir branches, red boots on fireplaces, sparkles, snowflakes, sculptures of Santa Claus.
Like Europeans, Turks usually celebrate the New Year with their families. All night long there is a celebration, the table is bursting with treats. Following Western traditions, Turkish women cook stuffed turkey for the holiday. Also in Turkey for the New Year, people give each other gifts, postcards. The holiday continues with dances and songs. The celebration ends only in the morning. Exactly at midnight, the sky lights up with volleys of fireworks.

Finland

Christmas and New Years in Finland are holidays in which reality is confused with myths and fairy tales. On the streets there is crisp snow, myriads of lights, fun without stopping. Bonfires are lit, a stream of fireworks explodes in the air, firecrackers never stop. Adults and children dress up in carnival costumes of fairytale heroes and mythical creatures.
As you know, the real Santa Claus lives in Finnish Lapland. His home is near Rovanija, the most visited place in Finland. It is from here that Santa Claus sets out on a reindeer sleigh to the children of the whole world. Lapland is welcoming: first-class hotels and apartments, fully-equipped wooden self-catering villas and cozy cottages. The northern lights appear here almost through the night.
For Finns, a universal New Year gift is sports equipment and a candle, which symbolizes love and friendship in the coming year.
After December 27, the season of discounts opens in stores in Finland. Discounts sometimes reach 70-90%.

Photo sources:
savetravel.ru
efimova.perm.ru
ny-info.ru
megaparty.ru
savetravel.ru
suomirussian.blogspot.com

How is New Year celebrated in Europe?

Among the many holidays, there is one that adults and children alike look forward to. On New Year's, a Christmas tree appears in every home, a festive table is set and the night is spent with merry New Year's programs. Celebration traditions change from generation to generation, but the very fact of celebrating the arrival of the New Year has existed for at least three thousand years. And this has not yet been found even more ancient records. For example, a thousand years BC in ancient Mesopotamia, the new year marked the beginning of agricultural work during the flood of the Tigris and Euphrates. And 50 years before our era, the Roman emperor Julius Caesar appointed the date of the New Year, already familiar to us, on January 1, as the day of worship of the two-faced god Janus (after whom January, by the way, is named).

Germany

In anticipation of the New Year and Christmas in Germany, neat, strict and calculating Germans transform themselves and turn their native Deutschland into a fabulous elegant gingerbread house. The whole country shimmers with colorful lights, tantalizing aromatic smells of almond and ginger cookies, sweets, strudel, mulled wine are heard from everywhere, fire garlands are hung on trees and facades of buildings, houses are exquisitely decorated. The Nutcracker and Mrs. Blizzard - Frau Holle are considered to be fairy-tale symbols in Germany. In December, the Germans must also celebrate the Day of St. Nicholas - the beloved children's Saint.

Children put their shoes or slippers out the door, and kind Nikolaus puts gifts in them. And New Year's gifts are brought to them by the Christmas man Weinachtsman, who comes with the dear Christkind. Vainakhtsman is dressed in an inverted fur coat, belted with a chain, in his hand with a rod for punishing the disobedient, and a bag with gifts. Christkind is dressed all in white, her face is covered with a white veil, and she is holding a basket of apples, nuts and sweets. Pranksters in the New Year have a chance to correct themselves and receive a gift - for this they must read a poem or sing a song. The Christmas tree as a symbol of Christmas came from Germany.

The first Christmas trees were decorated with sweets, apples and nuts as early as 1605. Candles were lit on the tree in 1730. Before the New Year, the Germans wish each other “a good New Year glide”.

Celebrate the New Year in Germany with firecrackers and fireworks. This custom came from antiquity, firing guns and cannons, the Germans scared away evil spirits. Another sign is a meeting on New Year's Eve of a chimney sweep, this is a great success. But even greater magical power will be possessed by the one who gets dirty at this time in soot - such a person is guaranteed good luck in the New Year. And as soon as the clock begins to strike midnight, Germans of all ages climb onto chairs or tables and, with the last blow, unanimously "jump" into the New Year.

Iceland

This is an unusual country, even the New Year period here begins earlier than in other places, and Christmas "nights" are not 12, but 13 days. On December 23, Icelanders celebrate the Day of the death of St. Torlakur - on this day a Christmas tree is installed and the last purchases of Christmas gifts are made. Christmas, Icelandic Yule.

New Year's Eve is celebrated from noon on December 31, and most importantly, there should be as much lighting as possible. Then people take to the streets, where traditional festivities begin with folklore characters (trolls, elves, invisible men) around huge bonfires. It is believed that if you burn something in the New Year's fire, then all the bad will remain in the past year. Here and there mummers "trolls" and "elves" flicker.

By the way, according to tradition, they also carry out the mission of Santa Claus there. This company is quite numerous, it includes as many as thirteen "Christmas boys" - the Joulasweinns. And they come from a kind of trolls. Fairy tale characters appear one by one, at night, starting from the thirteenth of December, so that by the holiday they will be all together. Each has its own name and character, but all have a playful character. And if someone notices the licked dishes, hears a sudden knock on the door without anyone appearing on the threshold, or discovers the loss of smoked lamb, this is attributed exclusively to them.

The tricky kids know that some of the Joulasweinns can unexpectedly drop in on them any day from December 1st to 24th. If something goes wrong, instead of a gift in your shoe, you can find ... a potato. Boys and girls in Iceland begin to put up a red boot on the window by December 13th, as each of the Christmas naughty people who secretly come to people for the holiday brings gifts with them. The largest, of course, is presented directly to the celebration. It is delivered by the Candle Slayer, whose name betrays the beloved pranks of the wearer.

In general, Iceland is full of ancient traditions, and its inhabitants are sure that mysterious creatures not only exist, but also make contact with people. Especially on New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day, cows speak with a human voice, seals turn into humans and walk the streets and even the dead rise from their graves. If you sit at an abandoned intersection at midnight, you can meet an elf and receive gold from him as a gift. Since the 18th century, the New Year in Iceland has been celebrated with fireworks, which look amazing in the land of endless snow and ice hummocks. There are so many of them and they are so bright that in 2005 even all children aged 10 to 15 were given an unusual gift from public associations: special glasses that protect their eyes from the sparks of fireworks. Iceland is the only country in Europe where New Year is a national holiday, just like in Russia.

Italy

The holiday of Christmas and New Year in Catholic Italy has always been religious and family, in this respect the Italians have a very good proverb: "Christmas and New Year - with the family, and Easter - with whoever you want." New Year in Italy is called Capodano in translation this word means "head of the year." It is also sometimes called the supper of St. Sylvester. Little Italians are not waiting for gifts from Babbo Natale - the Italian Santa Claus.

Every year, on the day of the feast of Epiphany, January 6, the old woman Befana comes to them, who arrives at night on a magic broomstick, opens the doors with a small golden key and, entering the room where the children sleep, fills the children's stockings specially hung from the fireplace with gifts (which she resembles Santa Claus). For those who did not study well or were naughty, Befana leaves a pinch of ash or coal. It's a shame, but he himself deserves it! There is also a belief that if the house has a good owner, Befana will not only give gifts to his children, but will also sweep the floor before leaving. There is a custom: on the night of January 5-6, leave a small glass of wine and a saucer with food for Befana on the fireplace. According to legend, Befana (Epiphania) was sweeping the floor when three wise men stopped near her and called her to look at the Baby Jesus. She said she was busy. Later she changed her mind, but it was too late. And now every year she goes from house to house in search of the Holy Child, leaving gifts for him in every house.

Italians strongly believe in miracles on New Year's Eve. So there is a belief that in one of the local rivulets the water stops for a moment at the beginning of the New Year and becomes golden. The tradition of attracting health, luck and wealth - each member of the family puts a coin on the windowsill or puts a lit candle on it. It is also very important for the Italian who he meets first in the New Year. If on January 1 an Italian meets a monk or priest, this is a bad omen. It is also undesirable to stumble upon a small child, but meeting a cute old man is good. Better yet, a hunchback. Then the New Year will definitely be successful!

For Europeans, one New Year's custom seems very unusual and strange. Italians are convinced that everything old and bad must be left in the old year. Exactly at midnight, with the last strike of the clock, the windows of houses are thrown wide open, and bedside tables and couches, chairs and armchairs that have served their time are flying into the street. And on January 1, Italians wear exclusively new clothes.

New Year in France

For the French, for example, on New Year's Eve, one important tradition is to congratulate the barrel of wine on the holiday, having previously hugged it well. This procedure is especially important if you are a good winemaker. Per Noel, French Santa Claus, along with other Santa Clauses, also strives not to deprive anyone of the gifts that he puts in children's shoes. Also, on New Year's Eve in France, you can make your child's dream of becoming a king or queen come true and command your parents. Such happiness is possible if the child gets a piece of cake in which a bean is baked.

New Year in Spain and Portugal

In Spain, New Year can be called a public holiday. Thousands of people rush to the central square on the eve of the New Year, where there is a magnificent New Year's beauty tree. But people gather there not only for fun. Another purpose of their arrival there is to observe the next tradition of eating 12 grapes during the striking of the clock. In addition, in some parts of Spain, mainly in the villages, there is a funny tradition of fictitious marriages during New Year's Eve. Girls and boys draw lots, after which the couples find each other and stick together until the morning, playing newlyweds. Who knows, but maybe thanks to this, young people find their soul mates.

The Portuguese are also famous for their New Year's Eve parties. Some traditions are even similar to the Spanish ones, in particular, in Portugal on New Year's Eve during the striking of the clock, people need to eat 12 raisins for a happy life in the new year. In addition, according to another tradition, thousands of people come to the beaches to celebrate the New Year, where it is customary to drink champagne and have fun until the morning. For those people who celebrate the New Year at home, there is also an interesting tradition in store for expelling evil spirits using the noise created by the clatter of kitchen utensils. The more hype the tenants create, the less bad spirits will remain at home next year.

For residents of the capital The Netherlands In Amsterdam, the main New Year's event is the appearance of the local Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, in the city port.

The guest arrives in the country by sea, through Rotterdam, and not only ordinary citizens, but also the city authorities, including the mayor of the capital, organize a meeting in the tiny fishing village of Monnickandam. This usually happens in early December. And all the subsequent New Year's Eve, Dutch kids try not to be naughty in order to earn the long-awaited gifts from Nicolas and his servant, nicknamed Black Pit. In this country, festive celebrations are held very traditionally, except for the obligatory skating on the city skating rink, built specifically for the period of the holidays. By the way, a similar skating rink exists in Copenhagen, and many Danes specially come to the capital with their families to "test the ice".

In Ireland on the evening of New Year's Eve, everyone opens the doors of their homes. Anyone who wishes can enter any house and will be a welcome guest: he will be received with great joy, seated in a place of honor, treated with a glass of good wine, not forgetting to say, "3 for peace in this house and in the whole world." The next day, everyone celebrates the holiday at home. At half past eleven, the Irish come out to the illuminated and festively decorated central town square.

Celebrating the New Year in Austria, especially in cities, is of a public nature. People do not like to sit at home at such times. Most of all, this is inherent in the crowns. They say that no other Western European capital celebrates the New Year's holiday as cheerfully as in Vienna. Each time it turns into a brilliant and cheerful mass performance, the main action of which is played out on the streets and squares of the city, in its cafes, cellars and theaters.

In Austria, as in Germany, New Year is St. Sylvester's Day. New Year's Eve is always a fun day for Austrians. There are a lot of confetti, ribbons, fireworks and champagne everywhere.

Strauss's operetta "The Bat" can be considered a symbol of the New Year in the country, since not a single New Year goes by without it. It is played at the Vienna Opera. A characteristic sound for this holiday is the sound of trumpets that sound from the church towers at midnight.

Finland

Everyone knows that the real Santa Claus lives in Finnish Lapland. It is here that the celebration of the New Year is strongly associated with various myths and beliefs.

According to old traditions, many people celebrate the coming year with friends - some at home and some in restaurants. The celebration is characterized by a lavish dinner, festivities until the morning and a lot of fireworks.

In most shops in Finland, after December 27, the discount period begins. The peak of sales falls on the first days of the new year.

New Year in the Czech Republic.

Recently, on New Year's in the Czech Republic, various entertainments and shows have been organized on the streets and in institutions. Fireworks have become an indispensable element of the holiday. Unlike the CIS countries, where it is customary to celebrate the New Year all night long, many Czechs go home quite early: already at 1 am you can meet people wandering with packages, returning from guests (they carry snacks from the table in their bags).

Although most of the old New Year's customs in the Czech Republic have long been forgotten, residents adhere to certain national traditions. Today, the celebration of the Czech New Year consists in the fact that all family members gather together at a rich dinner table, on which lentils or soup with small cereals must be present, so that there is a lot of money next year.

Pork is also considered a traditional New Year's dish. But eating a rabbit or a bird is undesirable, so that happiness does not run away and fly away. Recently, it has become very popular in the Czech Republic to celebrate the New Year in the mountains. Groups of friends or several families rent a house there for a few days, go skiing or snowboarding, and make a festive dinner. The restaurants and boarding houses of the ski complexes also offer a special New Year's program.

New Year in Hungary

If Christmas for Hungarians is a quiet and family holiday, then New Year is usually celebrated noisily: one is supposed to drink, sing, shout and have fun.

The more noise there is, the happier the year will be. Therefore, in addition to confetti, streamers, colorful garlands and funny masks, cardboard pipes, various pipes, various pipes, tweeters, rattles and firecrackers, which always accompany the arrival of the Hungarian New Year with a deafening roar, are very popular among children and adults. The first day of the New Year according to the Catholic calendar is St. Sylvester's Day.

According to tradition, in Sylvester you cannot eat either fish or birds, otherwise happiness will fly away or float away. But great luck in the New Year awaits the one who twists the tail of a fried pig on New Year's Eve. In some Hungarian restaurants, this becomes the highlight of the New Year's program. But in ordinary friendly, especially youth companies, the piglet successfully replaces a huge dish with sausages - they are sold before the holiday in huge packages, several kilograms each.



Christmas is a family holiday, so shops and boutiques, festive crowded Christmas markets in squares, supermarkets - everything closes on this day no later than 16.00. There are no festivities, as the entire infrastructure freezes. Kiosks, shops, which yesterday sold sweets, hot wine and toys, are closing. It is difficult to buy groceries, but round-the-clock mini-markets, which are held throughout Europe by immigrants from Asia, mostly Vietnamese, help out.

Europeans celebrate Christmas with family or close friends. It is not customary to sit deep after midnight. The main thing - this communication... Adults give each other gifts at the table, children too, but sometimes, almost like in the Russian tradition, a child can find an additional present from Santa Claus in the morning. On the morning of December 25, the low season begins. Most shops are closed until December 28th. The only element that revives the sleepy post-Christmas cities is the public skating rinks in the city squares.

New Year's is a completely different matter.



In most European countries, it is called Happy Saint Sylvester... I wonder what in the figure Saint Sylvester two people are united. Firstly, Sylvester I is the Pope of the Catholic Church, according to a ridiculous legend in 314 who caught the Old Testament monster - the sea serpent Leviathan. In early Catholicism at the end of the first millennium AD. NS. it was a fashionable prophecy that in 1000 this biblical monster will break free - and then the end of the world will come (as you can see, legends about the end of the world have always been popular). However, here another Pope, Sylvester II (999-1003), intervenes in the matter. Through his efforts, and he was also a magician (it is strange that he was not burned as a sorcerer), the disaster did not happen.


European New Year- a holiday in comparison with Christmas is less significant, but much more social. On the evening of December 31, after Christmas, numerous kiosks with food and alcohol begin to work in the squares, elegant merry-go-rounds spin, a Christmas tree flashes with lights of electric garlands, and mass festivities take place. On New Year's Eve in Europe, as well as in Russia, numerous fireworks rush into the sky from different sides, and the air is filled with the sound of crackling firecrackers.

The traditions of celebrating the New Year in different European countries are slightly different, although they retain general trends.


V Austria New Years are usually celebrated with friends and family. Exactly at midnight, all radio and television programs broadcast the sound of a bell St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, followed by the Blue Danube waltz by Johann Strauss. Many people dance in the streets, orchestras play.

V Belgium New year is called Saint Sylvester's Eve... On television, comic programs, musical programs are broadcast, at midnight, with glasses of champagne in their hands, everyone exchanges kisses, congratulations, wishes of good luck. Then many go out to watch the fireworks. Cafes and restaurants are overcrowded. Free buses operate. Interestingly, on New Year's Eve, Belgian farmers go to the barn to wish the animals a Happy New Year, which misleads them. Indeed, for some of them, the coming year will be the last.


In France New Year (La Saint-Sylvestre) usually celebrated as a home food festival. Gourmet food is served on the table, including foie gras, oysters, seafood and of course champagne. Celebration can be either dinner with family and friends, or fun and dancing in a noisy company. On a holiday, as well as later on Epiphany (January 6), they often eat a sweet puff pastry pie called Galette de Roi, filled with almond paste. One of the pie pieces contains a small paper crown and a tiny porcelain figurine that could break a tooth. Whoever gets it becomes the king or queen of this day. He solemnly drinks a glass of wine, and all those present clap their hands and say in chorus: “The King is drinking! The King is drinking! "


V Czech Republic on Sylvester certainly cook carp with apples, horseradish and beans. Such a treat is considered a guarantee of good luck and happiness in the coming year. A bird is categorically not welcome on the festive table, because of this, happiness can "fly away", like this bird. Concerts are held in Prague on Wenceslas Square on New Year's Eve.


V Of Italy for the new year (Notte di San Silvestro) it is customary to wear red underwear... There is no tradition of throwing old furniture out of the windows, which Russian-language sites still like to write about. New Year's Eve dinner is traditionally held with the family. It often includes an original dish zampone- pork leg stuffed with minced pork cheeks, shoulder and entrails, served with bean stew and cotechino (pork sausage for boiling). At 8.30 pm, the President reads a greeting from the TV screen to the Italians. At midnight, cities across the country are lit up with fireworks. While the bells of St. Peter's Basilica are ringing, the Italians try to eat one spoonful of beans (lentils), which is the symbol of the coin, with each beat.


But in Europe, in contrast to the Russian New Year, on January 2-3, the holidays are already over, fairground structures are being dismantled.
The European New Year is a holiday that certainly deserves the attention of tourists. A fabulous atmosphere of medieval cities, fun and smiles of those around you are waiting for you. And although by our scale the celebration is fleeting, the post-New Year days are no less wonderful, because in all large department stores and boutiques in Europe, big sales begin with a 50-70% discount.

The amazing holiday of Christmas has become a favorite in many parts of the world, in countries with a very different culture, history and climate. How do people celebrate Christmas? By tradition - of course, at home, because this is, first of all, a family holiday. Many countries have the same customs on this day, but each country has its own habits, especially for the Christmas table.

  • Where does the difference in dates for the celebration of Christmas come from?
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Bulgaria
  • France
  • Italy
  • Austria
  • Greece
  • Finland
  • Estonia
  • Israel
  • Dominican Republic
  • Portugal
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Iceland
  • Argentina

Where does the difference in dates for the celebration of Christmas come from?

If New Year is a secular holiday, then Christmas is Christian. Everyone knows, when Catholic Christmas is celebrated in Europe - December 25.

But why, then, this holiday among the Orthodox acquired another date on January 7, because it is unlikely that even such an unusual baby like Jesus could be born twice. This confusion with dates arose from the inaccuracy of the calendars used by Europeans. The ROC now lives according to the old Julian calendar, which Julius Caesar borrowed from the Egyptian priests and put into circulation in the Roman Empire. New Year's Eve began on January 1. According to it, Christmas also falls on December 25, but according to the Gregorian calendar, according to which we all live, this is already January 7.

Until 1582, Europe lived according to the same calendar, but it was difficult to calculate the time of Easter from it. Therefore, Pope Gregory XIII decided to reform the calendar, making it more accurate. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars lies in the principle of accounting for leap years. If at the time of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar the difference between them was 10 days, now it has reached 13 days and will slowly increase further. This is why Christmas is celebrated on different days around the world.

United Kingdom

The date when Christmas is celebrated in Great Britain is no different from Western Europe - all the same on December 25th. But since the inhabitants of Foggy Albion respect traditions very much, the celebration of this Holy Day should be commemorated with a short speech by the queen, delivered immediately after the Christmas dinner.

When the British celebrate Christmas, they always go to church before sitting down to the festive table. Children here ask for gifts from "Father Christmas". To do this, the offspring must write a letter with a detailed list of everything that he wants to receive in the new year, and then burn it in the fireplace - and the smoke coming out through the chimney will convey the wishes to the destination.

In Great Britain, people celebrate Christmas for two days - after the actual Christmas is St. Stephen's Day. On this day, the British open donation boxes and distribute what they have collected there to people in need.

On this family holiday, all family members strive to gather at their parents' house, exchange gifts and collectively sort through family photo albums. Celebrating Christmas in the UK is impossible without gooseberry turkey and pudding for dessert. The British drink brandy that day, and then tea.

The decoration of the table should be a pie, into which, according to an old custom, small surprises are put in. By what gets to whom, the British wonder what the coming year promises them: a horseshoe - good luck, a coin - wealth, and a ring - marriage. The British decorate their homes at Christmas with the branches of mistletoe (fertility and hospitality) and holly (wealth).

Germany

Germany is a Christian country, there are approximately equal parts of Catholics and Protestants, so the celebration of Christmas in Germany falls on the night of December 24-25.

But preparation for this holiday begins in November. Festive services, confessions and communions are held in churches. The traditions of celebrating Christmas in Germany are curious, according to which the season of the Christmas holidays begins on November 11 at 11:11 local time. Christmas holidays are called "the fifth season" here. Noisy fairs open on the squares of old German cities, to which thousands of buyers come. They spend their time having fun: eating, drinking mulled wine, singing, dancing, hugging. Children, on the other hand, eagerly open Advent - sweet calendars designed for 24 days, with one candy hidden in the cell of each day.

Also, the Germans give each other "Christmas stars" (in our opinion, euphorbia) - plants imported from Mexico in the last century. If you take proper care of this plant, then around Christmas a pink or scarlet flower will appear on it, shaped like a star. It is also customary to give clover pots for good luck.

In Catholic regions of the country, such as Bavaria, on Christmas days, mummers processions roam the streets, often with a frightening look - masks or simply a face smeared with soot.

In the premises, it is customary to arrange biblical "nativity scenes" - scenes on a Christmas theme. Typical elements of the den are the cave with the newborn Jesus, the wise men and the guiding star. The doors are decorated with intertwined candle ribbons and biblical characters.

As elsewhere, in Germany Christmas is a family holiday - the whole family should certainly gather at the festive table. A besherung, a ceremony for exchanging Christmas gifts, is immediately arranged.

Bulgaria

Since the Bulgarians are mostly Orthodox people, the question of when Christmas is celebrated in Bulgaria, for many, does not even arise. But, oddly enough, the date of the celebration in this country falls on December 25th.

The holiday begins on December 24 with Kolyada, when the caroling guys go home, sing Christmas songs and wish the owners health, prosperity, wealth, and a good harvest. It is customary for carol-keepers to give gifts and money, some of which must be donated to charity (to church or school, for the needs of the poor).

Christmas Eve is called “a poor evening” here, all those who have come to this evening are invited to it, and there are always an odd amount of lenten dishes on the table. The hostesses bake "banitsa" - a traditional cake in which various surprises are baked (notes with wishes, nuts, coins). First, the hostess pricks the cake with a fork, and then divides it so that everyone at the table gets a surprise.

Since Bulgarian Christmas is also a purely family holiday, the streets of the country are very poorly crowded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve.

USA

The answer to the question when they celebrate Christmas in America is obvious - they brought this tradition from Europe, like many others. Therefore, Christmas trees are also decorated here (since the New Year is coming soon), Christmas carols are sung, and a traditional turkey is placed on the festive table on December 25th. Many Americans drink an egg-nog cocktail of eggs, alcohol and cream for Christmas.

When Americans celebrate Christmas, you can see it from afar, as they put on lush lights and decorate the streets. These days, everything is lit up: offices, shops and residential buildings. On front door outside at home, Americans like to hang Christmas or New Year's wreaths. And they also strive to shower each other with a mass of gifts. To do this, before Christmas, most stores bring down prices, and then many goods can be bought several times cheaper than usual.

Meeting Christmas at home also takes place with family and close relatives. Roasted turkey or goose flaunts on the table, complemented by salads and appetizers, as well as pudding or pie.

France

The traditions of celebrating Christmas on December 25, of course, also exist in Catholic France, and they are quite typical, including:

  • installation of a fir tree decorated with toys and balls;
  • arrangement of a Christmas "den" in the house;
  • acting out in the temple a small play on a Christmas theme.

But the French also have their own specific traditions, among which there are quite old ones. So, on Christmas, the French chose the log they liked the most, solemnly walked around the festive table with it, and even with sentences, and only then sent it to the fireplace. Now it is difficult to find a log, so it was replaced with an outwardly similar roll, which, instead of falling into the fireplace, becomes a festive treat.

The French are famous gourmets, so they pay special attention to the festive table, displaying turkey, champagne, sweets and various dishes on it.

Italy

Christmas, which also falls on December 25 in Italy, is celebrated in a more religious context. It is less common to meet St. Nicholas here, and more often Christmas "nativity scenes" are held, staging the appearance of Jesus into the world. Live performances or just figurines are present in all public places: in churches, in squares, near fountains, in shop windows, in houses.

The witch on a broomstick, La Befana, has also become an important Christmas character here. But you should not expect unpleasant surprises from her, since this witch is kind. It is believed that she delivers gifts to Italian children, so they prefer the witch to Santa Claus, so his role is secondary. Italians call him Bobbo Natale.

Getting to Christmas Mass at St. Peter's Basilica is not easy - tickets here need to be booked several months in advance. Those less fortunate can watch the service on the large screen installed in St. Peter's Square.

Austria

It is also easy to guess what date Christmas is celebrated in Austria, December 25th. The preparations for the holiday begin one month before the holiday. At the end of November, Advent is announced - the Christmas fast, and with it the expectation of the approaching celebration. Classic Christmas wreaths with 4 candles are made in homes during this period. On the first Sunday of Lent, only one candle is lit, on the next two, then three, and on the last Sunday of Advent, on the eve of Christmas, all the candles in the wreath are already burning brightly.

Festive bazaars are open throughout Austria in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Beautifully painted stalls are installed in these bazaars, selling various sweets: beautifully shaped cookies, candy canes, aromatic mulled wine and fried chestnuts.

Austrians prefer to decorate the Christmas tree not with balls and garlands, but with delicious decorations - marzipan and chocolate, which they are very proud of. A Christmas table in Austria should have perfectly cooked carp and spicy pastries.

Greece

Some compatriots are surprised when Christmas is celebrated in Greece, because it is a more Orthodox country, but here, too, Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and also in a close family circle.

A Christmas tree is decorated in the house, and gifts of Greek nature are displayed on the Christmas table - figs, nuts, raisins, fruits and other sweets. But the main dish is baked turkey. The hostesses bake sweet cookies with almonds and melomakarons - honey cookies in advance. Also, the Greeks bake a sweet biscuit, reminiscent of our kulich Christopsomo, which is made from yeast dough with the addition of wine, oil, almonds and several aromatic spices. The pastry is decorated with a cross, and a walnut is inserted into its center right in the shell.

At Christmas, Greeks give their neighbors household items, books, clothes, children's toys, and sometimes just envelopes with money. It is customary to sing Christmas carols during the festive week. In some places, young people still go to caroling, but for this they do not receive treats from the audience, as we have, but simply money.

Finland

It is interesting how the Finns celebrate Christmas, especially when you consider that Joulupukki (aka Santa Claus, aka Santa Claus) has been officially registered since 1984 in the north of the country - in Lapland, near the Arctic Circle. Any child from any corner of the world who sent a message to Santa Claus in Lapland can count on his answer.

In the old days, Finland celebrated Christmas a little earlier, but pork legs and Christmas beer were a treat in those days. Nowadays, the Finns celebrate this holiday on December 25. But it is customary to bring a Christmas tree into the house here not earlier than Christmas Eve, and in general, this tradition appeared in Finland during the period when it was part of the Russian Empire (XIX century).

On December 25, in the morning with the whole family, the Finns quickly decorate the Christmas tree, after which many of them go to church. Then you can enjoy a steamy sauna session.

Steamed and clean Finns sit down at the festive table in the evening. On this day, they prefer to drink mulled wine. At Christmas, housewives prepare ham baked according to a special recipe, which is accompanied by rice or carrot porridge. Moreover, there is a secret in porridge - whoever gets an almond seed on a plate will be lucky next year.

The next day after Christmas in Finland is the feast of St. Stephen, who is the patron saint of horses. Saint Lucia is especially revered at Christmas by the Finns.

Estonia

The celebration of Christmas in Estonia has retained its flavor and unique customs. On the eve of the holiday, people read the Christmas prayer - this tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. Then the church sought in this way to reconcile the eternally warring barons, at least on the eve of such a great holiday. So this prayer has come down to our days in Estonia, it sounds a call not to offend anyone - neither people nor animals, to be able to forgive, be attentive, take care of both loved ones and completely strangers, especially the elderly.

Like the Finns, Estonians cannot imagine Christmas without a bath, because they believe that bathing in these last days of the year cures all ailments and kindles an “inner fire” that will warm a person from within the whole coming year.

The Christmas table in Estonia should be plentiful - since Christmas Eve, gluttony is given free rein here. On the Estonian table you can see traditional sausages, pork and homemade beer.

Israel

Many people wonder if Jews celebrate Christmas? As you know, the main religion in Israel is Judaism, however, and the Nativity of Christ is widely celebrated here. Of course, the main festive ceremony is held where the story of the birth of Jesus Christ began - in Bethlehem. The city has a church of the Nativity of Christ, in which a massive Christmas service is held. It is headed by the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem. There are several important points in the rite:

  • the patriarch goes to the altar, on which lies the star of Bethlehem prepared in advance;
  • on this star he places a sculptural image of a baby;
  • both items are transferred together to a manger, where they will be kept until the feast of the Epiphany.

There are two dates for celebrating Christmas in Israel at once - December 25 and January 7, depending on the denomination. The Orthodox celebration begins on January 6 with a large procession led by the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem. She makes her way from the Old City to Bethlehem. The procession is attended by beautifully dressed Palestinian children, and the procession is accompanied by the sounds of drums and wind instruments.

Dominican Republic

If closer to the New Year you suddenly find yourself in the Dominican Republic, then you will probably be interested in the question of how Christmas is celebrated in the Dominican Republic. And this holiday in a tropical country looks very unusual for our eyes - no hint of frost, snow, ice slides and other signs of winter. However, all these factors do not prevent local residents from completely surrendering to the merry celebration of Christmas.

Back in early December, sales and special fairs begin to work here, where Dominicans buy up large quantities of souvenirs, gifts, treats and other festive items. It is also customary to visit church here, but in the morning. Also, the inhabitants of the island sit down at the family festive table. To celebrate Christmas with loved ones, many Dominicans have to return from other countries.

A piglet or a turkey baked on a spit is prepared for the festive table, and the dishes are washed down with anything: cola, coconut milk, beer or wine. After dinner, the islanders take to the streets to join the mass festivities, fireworks, Latin dances, carnivals and continue the celebration.

Portugal

For the most part, the Portuguese continue to be zealous Catholics, so the way Christmas is celebrated in Portugal is not too different from that in most Western European countries.

This first winter holiday is the most important of the year for them and is also held in the family circle. Many families collectively visit temples to hear the "Mass of the Rooster" (here they believe that people learned about the birth of the Messiah precisely because of his cry). After returning from church, everyone sits down at the festive table. Young people often prefer dancing and fun to a feast in the circle of friends, and sometimes strangers near the fires.

Many national dishes are prepared here for the festive table, among which must be an octopus with rice, a baked goat, roast lamb, and for sweets - pastries (bolorey cake). They drink excellent Portuguese wines at the table.

Sweden

Swedish Christmas is perhaps the longest, as it lasts from December 13 to January 13. Moreover, such a scale has been observed here for a whole millennium. The Swedes expect gifts from the Christmas gnome - an analogue of our brownie. He, according to legend, lives in the underground of every house.

Christmas in Sweden is symbolized by the figure of a goat, which is made from straw every year. This tradition is rooted in Scandinavian mythology. For the first time, a public Christmas goat was installed in the town of Havel in 1966. True, not everyone loves this symbol, so the opponents of the goat seek to destroy it in any way - to steal, break, burn. As a result, out of 45 goats installed in different years in Havel, 28 were subjected to acts of vandalism. Statistics also confirm that the population of Sweden is divided approximately equally in relation to this mythological character: one half considers him a perfectly acceptable symbol of Christmas, while the other sees him as devilry and seeks to destroy ...

Denmark

In Denmark, preparations for the upcoming Christmas begin on the first Friday of November. It is on this day that the first dark, sweetish Christmas beer of the year appears on sale, and the counters of all stores begin to dazzle with Christmas paraphernalia, a persistent aroma of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves can be heard from pastry shops.

Danish streets begin to smell of almonds, street markets open, selling fluffy pines, Christmas trees or cypresses. Squares and streets are decorated with garlands, silk and paper red hearts, and straw goats. Near the town hall on the main square, the main city Christmas tree is erected, under which a large transparent box is placed for donations intended for children from poor countries.

At Christmas, the hostesses bake “Christmas boars” - loaves in the shape of a wild boar. On the first day of the Christmas week, a thick candle is lit with graduations applied to it - when it burns out to the first division, it is extinguished, and the next day it is re-lit until it burns out until the next division, and so on.

Iceland

Iceland is also beginning to prepare in advance for the bright holiday of Christmas. So, on December 12, children's shoes appear on the windowsills, the owners of which are waiting for the appearance of gifts in them. Icelandic kids are lucky - they are presented not only by Santa Claus, but also by 13 other Christmas-tree characters, who are at the same time similar to people and trolls. For two weeks they would put something in their boot every night. The mischievous people who showed bad behavior in the past year will find a potato instead of a gift, and those who were completely obnoxious will be awarded Grila - a three-eyed cat with protruding teeth and warts. There is a legend regarding the last character, according to which Grila on Christmas night can drag away children who were not given new clothes.

On Christmas Eve, Icelanders cook ptarmigan, which has long been a Christmas dish here. It is known that partridges run more, because they fly badly, so it was not difficult to catch them, and such a treat became available even to the poor who did not have guns.

Another old Christmas tradition is the preparation of leafy bread. Since cereals do not grow in Iceland, grain was always brought here by sea and was very expensive. Therefore, the flour dough was almost precious - the housewives rolled it out very thinly, and then put Christmas symbolic figures out of it. Rice pudding with almonds in the center is served for dessert at the Christmas table.

On Christmas night, Church Mass is broadcast on the radio, while television temporarily stops working.

Argentina

In Argentina, where Christmas is also celebrated, it is also a family, home holiday. All close relatives gather in the house of one of them, where a festive table is prepared. At midnight, they solemnly open a fizzy drink (usually cider, less often champagne). Then the youth go outside to shoot balloons or set off fireworks and detonate firecrackers. Special believers go to church.

On Christmas Eve, the working day is usually shortened, and on December 25, life seems to freeze - all kiosks, shops, restaurants, bars, clubs are closed. On the Christmas table, Argentines like to present "Russian salad" (somewhat reminiscent of the modern version of our Olivier), as well as a salad with tomatoes and lettuce, pickled chicken and Argentinean asado.

It is customary to decorate a Christmas tree in Argentina quite discreetly, using balls of only 1-2 colors.

In which country did you celebrate the most interesting Christmas? Which country's traditions do you like? Tell us about it in the comments, we are very interested in your opinion.

There is hardly anything more fabulous than the atmosphere of magic in Europe during Christmas and New Years. Even adults, she briefly plunges into a fairy tale, forcing them to remember childhood and become a little happier and more carefree. We are sure that the best gift you can give to your children, family and yourself is to celebrate the New Year in Europe.

When to go

The date of Christmas in Europe is December 25th. New Year is celebrated in the same way as ours, on January 1, but Christmas festivities are much more fun and large-scale. So if you buy tickets for December 22-24, you will definitely find yourself in the midst of the holiday.

If time permits, you can arrive around mid-December, when the fairs and sales open, to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.

If your New Year's weekend starts only on December 29-30, you should not worry - large-scale Christmas markets often do not close until the first days of January, and fireworks, street festivities and other equally interesting events await you on the New Year itself.

Trade fairs

The main entertainment that awaits you in Europe in 2017 at Christmas is fairs, the best way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of miracles and buy interesting souvenirs and gifts. Even if you do not like shopping, you will be captured by this whirlpool of fun and pre-holiday bustle.

Fairs are held in every European city, but we have compiled for you a list of the most interesting and famous.

WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin, Germany

By the end of December, all of Berlin, whose heart is in the Gendarmenmarkt. Everything is decorated with bright lights - the tents from the roof of the French Cathedral look especially festive. The atmosphere of lightness and idleness reigns here - just wander and drink mulled wine, taste traditional gingerbread and buy amazing handmade souvenirs. You can dilute simple walks with sledding or ice skating and eating all kinds of pastries - we especially recommend the legendary German Baumkuchen puff pastry.



Tallinna Jõuluturg, Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn Fair is getting more and more magnificent every year. In the center of the Town Hall Square, a richly decorated Christmas tree is erected, from which shopping arcades with souvenirs and delicacies diverge in all directions. Here you can buy handmade dolls, bizarre tableware and incredibly smelling juniper coasters. Children will get acquainted with Jyuluvan - Estonian Santa Claus. It is especially pleasing that many people in Estonia speak Russian.



Marchés de Noël, Strasbourg, France

For many, France is not associated with a magical Christmas atmosphere, but only until it comes to Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas. Cafes and restaurants offer a unique winter menu, and numerous craft shops sell not just souvenirs, but real works of art. The center of all this festive action is celebrations on Kleber Square, around a 30-meter Christmas tree.



Christmas on Covent Garden, London, UK

The London Fair takes over the city, but its spirit is especially felt in the Covent Garden area. All shops are decorated with colored lights, visitors are treated to cookies and jam inside. A special entertainment is the pudding race, in which you must not only come to the finish line first, but also not drop the traditional Christmas pudding.



Main fair at Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic

Close to us, the Czech Republic is a popular place to celebrate the New Year and Christmas. Fairs are open here in all districts, but it is on the Old Town Square that the tallest and most richly decorated Christmas tree stands. Music, souvenirs, Christmas cookies and a ride through the Old Town in elegant carriages await you. On January 1, a grandiose fireworks are arranged, completing the festivities.



Vacation with children

Of course, if you go to Europe for New Year and Christmas with children, they will love it in any city you choose. However, several destinations are considered the most "childish" - the impressions of such a trip will definitely remain with your kid for life.

Finland

Rovaniemi is a village in Lapland where the Finnish Santa Claus, Joulupukki, lives. Many people settle here and the classic European Santa, so that the place can be called universal.

Santa's Residence is the perfect place to spend Christmas with your child. Here you can ride real reindeer, feed the reindeer baby moss and even talk personally with Santa and receive a gift from him. By the way, all these entertainments are also available to adults.

In addition, Rovaniemi has many attractions in winter, and the nearby Ounasvarra Ski Center offers skiing, snowboarding and sledging.



England

We have already talked about the English fair, but if you are in London with children, be sure to visit Hyde Park. For Christmas time, it is turned into a real Disneyland with a huge roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, a skating rink for thousands of people and a Santa Express train. The circus hosts Christmas-themed performances. You only need to pay for tickets for attractions - you get entrance to the park itself and a wonderful New Year's mood for free.